Art of measuring the velocity of terrestrial bodies relative to each other



Patented May 27, 1924.

ART 'I'JKEASITRING- THE VELQCITY 01E t p-1 'rrvn ro neon WEBER.

N Drawing.

' To all whom it may concern. 7

Be it known that I, FRE ERICK GRANT Snvrrsorr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, county of King, State of lVashington, have invented a new and useful Art of Measuring the Velocity of Terrestrial Bodies Relative to Each Other; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, 10 such as will enable others skilled in similar arts to make use of the same.

This invention relates to a method of measuring the velocity, and direction of motion, of one terrestrial body relative to another terrestrial body, which method embodies, and applies, the Doppler-Fizeau principle, force or effect, as manifested through the medium of, electro-magnetic waves. 1 I

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, and easily applied, method of ascertaining and measuring the motion of terrestrial bodies, "relative to each other; which method is not restricted'in its use to cases where such bodies are mechanically joined together, are touching each other, or are within visible distance of each other. The application of my method involves'the use of devices for generating and measuring electro-magnetic Waves and for comparing the apparent frequency-of such waves, emanating from a distant source, with their frequency of eneration. The difi'erence between the 0 served frequency and the freobserver who is at rest relative to the gen-- orator of such waves. I shall use the term conveyance to designate any object, in motion relative to a fixed pointon the surface of the earth, which is capable of carry- Application filed Hay 28 quency of generation is, in accordance with 1923. Serial No. 641,017.

ing such devices as are necessary for the application of my method of ascertaining its relative velocity as herein described.

For more extended discussion of the Doppler-Fizeau principle reference is made to Physical Optics, edition of 1914, by Robert W. Wood, pages23 to 27 inclusive.

Let it be assumed that a conveyance carrying an observer and an arrangement of radio receiving devices, constituting a heterodyne to radio receiver, say one similar to that described in The Princi les of Electric WV ave Telegraphy and Telep ony, third edition, pages 705 to 708 partially inclusive, by J. A. Fleming; is approaching a stationary radio generatmg station. Let it be also assumed that the frequency of generation of the local generator carried by the conveyance, and which forms a part of the heterodyne radio receiver, isthe same as the frequency of generation of the stationary generator, this condition having been attained by previous adjustment ofthe frequency of the two generators while both were at rest with respect to each other. If now the antenna and associated secondary circuits (exclusive of the local generator) of the heterodyne receiver are adjustedto be resonant at the apparent frequency of the electro-magnetic waves, which are intercepted from the stationary generator, there will exist in the receiver circuits an electric current having a frequency equal to the numerical difierence between the frequency of generation of the stationary generator and the apparent frequency of the electro-magnetic waves, emanating therefrom, as intercepted by the radio receiver. 1 shall herein designate the frequency of this current as the beat frequenc It may be shown; that if c is the velocity of propagation of electro-magnetic waves, in meters per second; F the frequency of gen e'ration of the stationa generator in cycles per second; and, there ore, of the local generator carried by the conveyance; ,f the apparent frequency of the electro-magnetlc waves intercepted by the receiver, in cycles per second; B the beat frequency, in cycles per second, which is equal to the numerical difference between F and f and 'v the velocwell known kinds.

ity of approach to, or recession from, the stationary generator, in meters per second, of the conveyance; that, if the conveyance is approaching the stationary generator;

j 'v Fv B;c f=F 1+E):f-F-B? and U- F If the conveyance is receding from the stationary generator, with velocity 'v;

and 'v= T If F has the same numerical value as 0 that is to say, if the frequency of generatlon is that of an electromagnetic wave of one meter length, the equations become 12:15 and the velocity of the conveyance in meters per second, with respect to the stationary generator, is equal to the beat frequency in cycles per second.

The beat frequency current may be amplified in any of several well known ways and its frequency indicated by instruments of These instruments may be simple frequency indicators or synchronous motors, or both.

To the end that the directional bearing of the stationary generator, relative to the conveyance, may be known, directional antennae maybe provided at both the stationary generator and upon the conveyance, or upon the conveyance alone.

Let it be assumed that a conveyance carrying a generator of electromagnetic waves is approaching, or receding from, a stationary observation point which is equipped with the same arrangement of radio receiving devices as that hereinbefore described as having been carried by the conveyance. Let it be also assumed that the frequency of the local generator at the stationary observation point, and which forms a part of the heterodyne receiver, is the same as the frequency of the generator carried by the conveyance, this condition having been attained by previous adjustment of the two generators while both were at rest with respect 'to each other. If now the antenna and associated circuits (exclusive of the local generator) at the stationary receiving point, are adjusted to be resonant at the frequency of the electro-magnetic waves, emanating from the generator, carried by the conveyance, there will exist in the'receiver circuits an electric current having a frequency equal to the numerical difference between the frequency of the generation of the enerator carried by-the conveyance and the requency of the electro-magnetic waves radiated by it as apparent at the stationary point of observation. As in the previous case, I shall designate the frequency of this current as the beat frequency.

Using the same notation as before, it may be shown that, if the conveyance is ap proaching the point of observation,

E c "v' If the conveyance is receding from the point of observation EZl. 0+0 Therefore iff #351 dropped from the denominators of the last terms of the two last equations making If F has the same numerical value as 0, as was assumed in the previous case v=. iB as before.

The directional bearing of. the conveyance, relative to the stationary point of observation, may be ascertained by theuse of directional antennae on the conveyance and at the point of observation or at the latter point alone. 1

It is obvious that many other arrangements of radio devices may be used to indicate the beat frequency and, therefore, the required velocity. As an instance; a receiver, previously calibrated to show the frequency of the waves to which it is resonant ,at its various adjustments may be substituted for the heterodyne receiver herein described. In this case'the difference between the marked adjustment of the receiver when resonant at the frequency of the incoming waves, relative to the point of observation, and the known frequency of generation of the distant generator is equal, numerically, to the beat frequency. It may also be seen that electro-magn'etic Waves of the order of the visible spectrum may be theoretically utilized in place of the longer radio waves, for the purpose, of this invention; such use, however involves measurements of great precision of minute quantities and requires the substitution of well known optical devices for producing, measuring and comparing the frequency of such waves in place of the radio frequency devices hereinbefore described.

I am aware of previous utilization of the Do pler-Fizeau rinciple in connection wit astronomicil observations includin the measurement of velocities of celestia bodies with respect to the earth, such velocities being indicated by their eii'ect upon the frequency of electro-magnetic waves, of the order of light waves, emanating from such bodies. My invention departs from all previous use of the Doppler-Fizeau principle, as relative to the measurement of velocities, in its application to the measurement of velocities. of a difl'erent order of magnitude from that of those involved in its previous use and in the further utilization of its effect, as'manifested through the medium of electro-ma netic waves of frequencies of the order 0 those used for the purpose of radio communication; thereby roviding a method of measurement of ve ocities of great precision.

While the scope of this invention includes the use of electro-magnetic 'waves of all frequencies, for the purpose herein defined, I

prefer to use such waves having fre uencies of the order of those classed as ra io frequencies and especially frequencies of approximately three hundred million cycles per second.

While I have described certain forms and arrangements of apparatus, my invention is not to be limited to any particular form of apparatus, or the arrangement thereof.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The method of measuring the velocity of a terrestrial bod with respect to another terrestrial body, wiich consists in comparing the frequency of generation of a generator of electromagnetic waves, at rest with respect to one of the bodies, with the ire quencg of the electromagnetic waves radiated y such generator as measured at a pointat rest with respect to the other body.

2. The method of measuring the relative velocity of two terrestrial bodies, which consists in comparing the frequency of electromagnetic waves, as measured at a oint at rest with respect to one of said bodies, with the frequency of said electromagnetic waves as measured at a point at rest with respect to the other bod r v 3. The method of measuring the relative velocity of two terrestrial bodies, which consists in enerating electromagnetic waves of known f requency at a point at rest with res act to one of said bodies, receiving said e ectromagnetic waves at a oint at rest with respect to the other of said bodies and comparing the known frequency of the generated electromagnetic waves with the measured frequency of the received electromagnetic waves.

Seattle, Wash. .May18th, 1-923.

FREDERICK GRANT SIMPSON. 

